(IN)VISIBLE 2025 12 mins (short) is an international award-winning psychological short debut film written, directed and produced by Sam Joseph that explores the psychological effects of domestic abuse and society’s complicity in trial and judgement. A young wife, abused by her older husband, is misread as cold and detached while he charms his friends. When he suddenly leaves during a very awkward and tense pre dinner gathering against the backdrop of a symbolic art exhibition, she finds herself at the centre of an uncomfortable damning trial by those who only know his version of the story. The trial unfolds around a contemporary table setting, echoing iconic scenes from art history, showing the historical repeated patterns of how women are seen, silenced, and judged.
The film’s emotional power lies in what remains unsaid, and reveals the insidious nature of domestic abuse and the ease with which a perpetrator can shape a victims story, in this narrative the wife endures a hostile societal trial and judgment with strength, dignity and resilience. Stunning cinematography by award-winning Zoran Veljkovic SAS, original music by Calvin Calica RCA and costume design by Stella Lam MA Westminster & RCA.
Sam Joseph creates a narrative of great emotional intensity that delicately explores the themes of marginalisation and the need for recognition. The direction stands out for its visual sensitivity and stylistic consistency, capable of shaping a sober yet deeply empathetic language. A work that impresses with its authenticity and the finesse of its human gaze.
Rome Independent Film Festival 2025
Paul Haggis Artistic DirectorWe deeply appreciate the powerful intentions behind the film and the importance of amplifying stories that address domestic violence with dignity and responsibility.
Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2025
Photography by Simon Roberts
